DOCSLIB.ORG

Sandnet Weekly Update, September 23, 2003

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sandnet Weekly Update, September 23, 2003 SANDNet Weekly Update, September 23, 2003 Recommended Citation SANDNet, "SANDNet Weekly Update, September 23, 2003", SANDNet, September 23, 2003, https://nautilus.org/sandnet/sandnet-weekly-update-september-23-2003/ CONTENTS September 23, 2003 Volume 4, #15 Nuclear Issues 1. Pakistan 2. India 3. IAEA Conference 4. Opinions & Analysis Afghanistan 1. News & Reports 2. Afghan-Pakistani Relations 3. Opinions & Analysis India-Pakistan Relations 1. News & Reports 2. Opinions & Analysis Pakistan 1. Law and Order 2. Opinions & Analysis 3. Military Affairs 4. US-Pakistani Relations India 1. Mumbai Blast 1 2. Sharon's Visit 3. Babri Site Controversy Kashmir 1. News & Reports 2. All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Split? 3. Opinions & Analysis Sri Lanka 1. News & Reports 2. Opinions & Analysis Nuclear Issues 1. Pakistan In an interview with Kommersant, a Russian daily, President Musharraf stated that the danger of a nuclear showdown between India and Pakistan has passed. The daily Nation (Pakistan) welcomes President Musharraf's remarks and adds that "serious attention ought to be paid to setting the political house in order to create internal stability. For we should never lose sight of the reality that wars may be fought with arms but are won with hearts." 2. India The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) received approval to build a Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, near Chennai. Former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission M.R. Srinivasan (The Hindu, India) recommends a vigilant policy to ensure the PFBR's success. Praful Bidwai (Hindustan Times, India) argues that "fast breeders" are inefficient and dangerous. The Hindustan Times (India) published a letter from the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) urging the Indian government to work towards denuclearization. 3. IAEA Conference At a recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Conference, the chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) explained that the "existence of a reliable infrastructure [of Pakistan's] nuclear power plants have encouraged us to acquire another nuclear power plant similar to Chashnupp." Writing in Jang (Pakistan), Zia Iqbal Shahid describes the IAEA's attempts to convince India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). 4. Opinions & Analysis The daily Hindu (India) criticizes India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) for taking the country "another step down the dangerous path of acquiring and assembling weapons of mass destruction..." M.B. Naqvi (Jang, Pakistan) warns India and Pakistan against becoming "greatly impressed by the fact that no war took place." Afghanistan 2 1. News & Reports The Afghan authorities arrested a number of Taliban fighters. An unconfirmed report (Jang, Pakistan) claims that pro-Taliban elements in Paktia province have captured four US soldiers. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that it has repatriated over 300,000 Afghan refugees since the January 1 of this year. 2. Afghan-Pakistani Relations In an interview with the BBC, President Musharraf accepted that the Taliban may be operating in tribal areas along Pakistan-Afghan border. A senior Pakistani official has denied that any operations against the Taliban or al-Qaeda were taking place in Pakistan's tribal areas. Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to deploy more troops at their respective borders. Pakistan International Airlines plans to operate three weekly flights between Islamabad and Kabul. 3. Opinions & Analysis Aijaz Ahmad (Frontline, India) writes that the US and its allies in Afghanistan are "incapable of fighting even a bunch of half-literate mullahs in towns and villages of Afghanistan because, for lack of an alternative leadership, these mullahs have come to embody the national will." B. Raman (Asia Times) examines Pakistan's past and present links with al Qaeda. India-Pakistan Relations 1. News & Reports President Musharraf and other government officials expressed support for resuming cricket games with India. India cleared Pakistan's participation in the first ever Afro-Asian Games to be held in Hyderabad in late October. Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha announced India's willingness to begin discussion regarding a South Asian Union. The Indian Express reported that Pakistan's Foreign Minister cancelled his visit to New Delhi after his Indian counterpart, Yashwant Sinha, made comments about the "necessity" of such a trip. The Indian Naval Chief reportedly cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka because the Sri Lankan government failed to inform New Delhi that a senior Pakistani military officer would be in Colombo at the same time. India has asked Britain to withdraw its appointment of a former Pakistani national as a visa officer in the British embassy in New Delhi. Pakistan's new ambassador to India, Aziz Ahmed, criticizes the slow pace of peace process between India and Pakistan. Aqil Shah (Dawn, Pakistan) analyzes the media and TV propaganda battle and the Pakistani ban on Indian television channels. 2. Opinions & Analysis Aunohita Mojumdar (Hindu, India) discusses how the relationship between India and Pakistan and their ties with Kabul affect Afghanistan's security and stability and vice versa. A Daily Times (Pakistan) report recounts the recommendations of the Asia Society's Task Force for Washington's policy in South Asia. M.B. Naqvi (Jang, Pakistan) suggests that Pakistan should let India build its arsenal, while Pakistan should abandon its "juvenile macho notions of militarism and foolish extolling of physical bravery" and instead focus on "how much food, shelter, jobs, education and healthcare 3 for its millions of poor it can provide." Pakistan 1. Law and Order Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the shootings at a Quetta mosque, in which over 50 people were killed. Ahmed Raza (OneWorld, UK) describes the negative effects of implementing the Hudood Ordinance. Two essays from Jang (Pakistan) explain the current status of the political impasse over the Legal Framework Order (LFO). 2. Opinions & Analysis The daily Hindu (India) faults the MMA (Muttahida Majilis-e-Amal, an alliance of six religious parties) for boosting "its prestige by making the military ruler [President Musharraf] treat it with unwarranted seriousness." MMA General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman has accused President Musharraf of selling the "dignity and honor of the nation to America..." In an audio tape released by Qatar's Al-Jazeera, Osama bin Laden's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, stated that President Musharraf has "sold the Muslims' blood in Afghanistan and handed over the Arab mujahideen to crusader America." 3. Military Affairs Pakistan is seeking about 20 second-hand F-16 fighters from Belgium to replace its ageing F-7s, A-5s and Mirages. Aircraft fly-bys and other armament displays marked the anniversary of the 1965 clash between India and Pakistan, celebrated on the sixth of September as "National Defense Day." Tariq Rahman (Jang, Pakistan) reconstructs the events up to and on that day, extracting a different set of lessons for Pakistan and its citizens today. The Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Pakistan Armed Forces signed a defense assistance protocol. Also in cooperation with China, the Pakistan Air Force tested a prototype of its fighter aircraft, designated the "JF-17 Thunder" by Pakistan and the "FC-1 Valiant Dragon" by China. 4. US-Pakistani Relations President Musharraf is scheduled to meet President Bush in a reception on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting later this month. Nasim Zehra (Jang, Pakistan) argues that what George Bush really seeks from Pakistan is a deployment of Pakistani troops to Iraq, and that Pakistan must avoid "another US jihad against terrorism." India 1. Mumbai Blast The day of the Mumbai bombings, which killed over 50 people, has become known as "Black Monday." Reports vary greatly about the number, affiliation, and identity of the primary suspect(s). Police, however, shot and killed Abdul Rehman Adeed (aka Nasir), a suspected mastermind of the August 25 twin blasts and an alleged operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Police also seized an arms cache during the encounter with Nasir. A bomb scare prompted the evacuation of a 12-story building 4 in Bombay, though no explosives were found. 2. Sharon's Visit Indian Express notes that Sharon's visit is in no way a radical foreign policy departure for India. The Times of India, however, contends that the invitation to Sharon shows that India "is no longer coy about its relationship with Israel, in fact, it seems to be flaunting it." The daily Hindu (India) argues that despite apparent parallels in a shared battle against terror, "the legitimacy of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination cannot be negated just because extremist elements within the movement frequently resort to repugnant methods." Talks between Israeli and Indian defense officials centered on import of aircraft mounted radars, co- production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and installation of electronic warfare systems. India has assured Israel that it would not transfer any acquired military technology to a third country including Iran. The Israel Space Agency hopes to place its $15 million telescope onboard India's Geo Stationary Launch Vehicle satellite, scheduled to launch in late 2005. In the 18-point joint declaration issued at the conclusion of Sharon's visit, Israel expressed its appreciation for "India's religious tolerance and secularism." Amit Baruah
Load more

Recommended publications
  • EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Committee on Foreign Affairs
    EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Committee on Foreign Affairs Brussels, 27 July 2004 REPORT OF AD HOC DELEGATION VISITS TO KASHMIR (8-11 DECEMBER 2003 AND 20-24 JUNE 2004) Introduction As part of the European Parliament's contribution to helping shape EU policy on the Kashmir issue, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy decided to send a delegation to both parts of Kashmir, and to the respective national capitals of Pakistan and India. The delegation's objective was to meet with a wide spectrum of political and public opinion, to learn their views on current developments and hopes for the future, and to see the situation on the ground at first- hand. For timetabling and logistical reasons, it was decided that the visit to the two sides (Islamabad and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (known as Azaad Jammu and Kashmir - AJK - on the Pakistan side) -, and to New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir - Indian- administered Kashmir, would have to take place separately. The first visit took place from 8-11 December 2003; the second, originally planned for the spring of 2004 was delayed because of the elections which were unexpectedly called in India, and finally took place from 20-25 June 2004. It was stressed throughout the preparatory phases that the two delegation visits should be undertaken by the same Members - which, with one exception, was the case - and that the two visits should aim to follow similar programmes in order to ensure continuity and for a balanced comparison to be made. The delegation was led by John Walls Cushnahan, and in December 2003 included Bob van den Bos, David Bowe, Glyn Ford, Jas Gawronski, Reinhold Messner and Luisa Morgantini.
    [Show full text]
  • Pakistan: Chronology of Events
    Order Code RS21584 Updated October 2, 2003 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Pakistan: Chronology of Events K. Alan Kronstadt Analyst in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary This report provides a reverse chronology of major events involving Pakistan and Pakistan-U.S. relations from September 2001.1 For a substantive review of Pakistan- U.S. relations, see CRS Issue Brief IB94041, Pakistan-U.S. Relations. This report will be updated regularly. 10/02/03 — Numerous Members of Acronyms Congress met with LOC: Line of Control (Kashmir) Pakistani PM Jamali at the MMA: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (or Capitol where they asked him United Action Front), a to discuss regional terrorism, coalition of six Islamist nuclear proliferation, and the political parties Kashmir situation, among NWFP: North West Frontier Province other issues. On the same SAARC: South Asian Association for day, the Pakistan Army Regional Cooperation reported killing 12 suspected WMD: weapons of mass destruction Al Qaeda fighters near the Afghani border. 10/01/03 — President Bush met with Pakistani PM Jamali at the White House and confirmed a mutual interest in combating terrorism. 09/30/03 — Deputy Secretary of State Armitage said that elements of the Pakistani security community may be reluctant to work with the United States. 09/29/03 — Indian security forces claimed to have killed 15 Muslim militants as they tried to cross the LOC from Pakistan. 09/28/03 — A taped message said to be from alleged Al Qaeda leader Ayman al- Zawahri called President Musharraf a “traitor” and urged Pakistanis to 1 Entries are on a day-to-day basis going back 60-90 days, then include periodic high-profile events.
    [Show full text]
  • From Insurgency to Militancy to Terrorism. by Balraj Puri* in 1989, A
    BALRAJ PURI Kashmir's Journey: From insurgency to militancy to terrorism. by Balraj Puri* * Director of the Institute of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs – Karan Nagar – Jammu – India In 1989, a massive Muslim insurgency erupted in Kashmir. A number of internal and external factors were responsible for it. Among them, was the "Rajiv-Farooq" accord towards the end of 1986, by virtue of which Farooq Abdullah, dismissed from power two years earlier, was brought back to power as interim chief minister (1987) after a deal with the Congress party. By vacating his role as the principal pro-India opposition leader, Farooq left the Muslim United Front, the first party based on a religious identity, as the only outlet for popular discontent. As the assembly election of 1987 had been rigged to facilitate his return to power, the people felt that there was no democratic outlet left to vent their discontent. Externally, the break up of the Soviet block where one satellite country after the other in East Europe got independence following protest demonstrations, was also a source of inspiration for the people of Kashmir who at last believed that "azadi" (azadi in Urdu or Farsi means personal liberty. Its first political connotation among the people has become, without a doubt, representative democracy) was round the corner if they followed the East Europe example. Furthermore, not far away, as the Soviet forces had pulled out from Afghanistan, harassed and vanquished by the Taliban who had the support of USA and of Pakistan, armed and trained Mujahids involved in that struggle became available and were diverted to Kashmir to support the local insurgency.
    [Show full text]
  • Kashmir: January 2019 by Jon Lunn
    BRIEFING PAPER Number 7356, 2 January 2019 Kashmir: January 2019 By Jon Lunn update Contents: 1. 2016: The killing of Burhan Wani triggers renewed violence 2. Developments during 2017 3. Developments during 2018 4. Low-key response from Western governments 5. Impasse without end? www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary 2 Kashmir: January 2019 update Contents Summary 4 1. 2016: The killing of Burhan Wani triggers renewed violence 6 Protests, strikes and curfews 6 Response of the Indian Government 6 Flaring up of tension between India and Pakistan 7 2. Developments during 2017 8 2017 the deadliest year since 2010 8 Main flashpoints and incidents 8 3. Developments during 2018 10 2018 more violent than 2017 10 Flashpoints and incidents 10 Deepening political crisis 12 4. Responses of Western governments and the UN 13 US response 13 UK response 13 EU response 14 UN response 14 5. Conclusion: impasse without end? 15 3 Commons Library Briefing, 2 January 2019 Cover page image copyright: Indian Army Act on Kashmiris by Usama302. Wikimedia Commons Licensed by CC BY 4.0 / image cropped. 4 Kashmir: January 2019 update Summary This briefing covers events in Indian-administered Kashmir since July 2016, which have been characterised by a dramatic upsurge in protest and violence on the ground – what some have called the “worst crisis in a generation”. On 8 July 2016, Burhan Wani, a 22-year-old leader of the armed group Hizbul Mujahedin, was killed by the Indian security forces. Following Wani’s death, the Kashmir Valley saw its biggest outbreak of protest and violence since 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Transnational Jihad Roots and Caliphate in Kashmir
    CENTRE FOR LAND WARFARE STUDIES D W LAN ARFA OR RE F S E T R U T D N IE E S C CLAWS VI CT N OR ISIO Y THROUGH V ISSUE BRIEF No. 69 January 2015 Shweta Desai is an former Associate Exploring Fellow of CLAWS, focussing on conflict and security in Syria and transnational Transnational Jihad Jihad. She traveled to Kashmir as a part Roots and Caliphate of a field research trip. in Kashmir There is no presence of Al Qaeda or ISIS establishing Key Points base in India. However, the roots of militancy in Kashmir have linkages to transnational Jihad. The growing support for the extremist group in the J&K 1. The rise of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) and remains a worrying factor. the subsequent joining of Indian nationals in its rank has raised concerns for the security agencies In the plethora of anti-India posters and graffiti1 2. It has also renewed fears that the global Islamist scrawled at various interjections from the militancy could attract the low-intensity conflict in walls of residential neighbourhoods, besides mosques in down-town Srinagar, to the narrow Kashmir, particularly after some flags and graffiti by-lanes of Anantnag, on the shutters of shops, supporting the extremist militant organisation voicing the popular sentiments of `Boycott were spotted in the valley. elections’ and `Quit India’2, there is a sudden 3. Kashmir, has a long history of militancy sponsored spurt of affinity towards the dreaded militant by Pakistan based militant groups, with threads group of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, whose even linking it with al Qaeda.
    [Show full text]
  • An Exploratory Study
    OCTOBER 2016 Physical Disengagement and Ideological Reorientation Among Militants in Kashmir: An Exploratory Study NIKHIL RAYMOND PURI Physical Disengagement and Ideological Reorientation Among Militants in Kashmir: An Exploratory Study NIKHIL RAYMOND PURI ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nikhil Raymond Puri is a Visiting Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. An independent researcher and risk analyst, Nikhil's research interests include religious education and state-led madrasa reform efforts, and militant radicalisation and disengagement in South Asia. He has conducted extensive fieldwork across India and Bangladesh. He consults in the area of operational and political risk management, and publishes widely on security-related developments in South Asia. He holds a BA in South Asian Studies from the University of Virginia and obtained his MPhil and PhD degrees in Politics from the University of Oxford. © 2016 Observer Research Foundation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from ORF. Physical Disengagement and Ideological Reorientation Among Militants in Kashmir: An Exploratory Study ABSTRACT This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews to explore the phenomenon of militant disengagement as experienced by six former militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The paper seeks to understand how and why individuals who enthusiastically joined the militant campaign against the Indian state beginning in the late 1980s subsequently moved away – physically – from armed violence. The study also aims to shed light on the nature and extent of ideological evolution experienced by the same individuals before and/or after their physical departures from militancy. The paper attends closely to the interplay between these physical and ideological aspects of disengagement, asking – in the case of each interviewee – how one relates to the other.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prospects for State Failure in Pakistan: Ethnic, Regional, and Sectarian Fissures Summary
    The Prospects for State Failure in Pakistan: Ethnic, Regional, and Sectarian Fissures Summary for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Session on the Future of Pakistan: Prospects of State Failure May 1, 2001 Rodney W. Jones Policy Architects International © Policy Architects international Outline 1. Key questions: What do we mean by 'state failure' in Pakistan? 2. Regional or ethno-linguistic separatism as threats of state failure (national disintegration?) (a) Baluchi 'Nationalism' (Baluchistan) (b) Pushtoon 'Nationalism' (NWFP and FATA) (c) Sindhi 'Nationalism' (d) Muhajir (MQM) 'separatism' 3. Islamic revivalism and sectarian conflicts as threats of state failure (a) Islamic political organizations and extremist offshoots (b) Sunni-Shia sectarian conflicts 4. Scenarios and policy implications (a) national disintegration, revolutionary state overthrow, harsh indigenization (b) isolation or realistic engagement Key Questions: What do we mean by 'state failure' in Pakistan? What is meant by “state failure” as an anticipated condition in Pakistan? People seem to have quite different implicit assumptions when they throw around the idea of Pakistan as a "failed state." Those assumptions should be unpacked. Policy Architects International 2 Four and a half theoretical futures seem to be plausible to some degree: (1) National disintegration: separatist civil wars and breakup of contemporary Pakistan into two or more independent states, presumably along ethno-linguistic or regional lines. (2) Failure of Democracy: democratic institutions
    [Show full text]
  • INDIA in 2008 Domestic Turmoil and External Hopes
    INDIA IN 2008 Domestic Turmoil and External Hopes Sumit Ganguly Abstract The past year saw signifi cant domestic turmoil in India. The country con- fronted a series of terrorist attacks including the one in Bombay, witnessed ethno-religious violence, dealt with a resurgent Maoist (Naxalite) guerilla move- ment, and faced agitations from agricultural communities over the acquisition of land for industrialization. On the external front, India managed to consum- mate a critical civilian nuclear agreement with the U.S., after much domestic debate and contention. Keywords: Naxalite agitation, terrorism, U.S.-India civilian nuclear agreement, Nandigram, economic downturn Introduction Communal violence, terrorist attacks and bombings, and internal confl icts wracked signifi cant parts of India throughout 2008. In addition, a dramatic spike in global oil prices, coupled with rising food prices, delivered considerable exogenous shocks to the country’s economy. Late in the year, the acute fi nancial crisis in the U.S. began having an ad- verse, but limited, impact on India’s economy. Despite these myriad prob- lems stemming from both domestic and external sources, the country managed to clock a growth rate of 7.9% in the quarter ending in June.1 Sumit Ganguly is Professor of Political Science and holds the Rabin- dranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University in Bloom- ington. E-mail: <[email protected]>. 1. Times of India, <http://timesofi ndia.indiatimes.com/At_79_GDP_quarterly_growth_ drops_to_3-year_low/rssarticleshow/3423549.cms>, accessed on October 16, 2008. Asian Survey, Vol. 49, Issue 1, pp. 39–52, ISSN 0004-4687, electronic ISSN 1533-838X.
    [Show full text]
  • Voice of Valley
    Voice Of Valley https://www.indiamart.com/company/8918725/ Police arrested Hurriyat conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani when he defied the house arrest orders and came out of his residence to go to offer his Friday prayers. Last Friday also he defied the orders and came out of his residence to go to ... About Us Police arrested Hurriyat conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani when he defied the house arrest orders and came out of his residence to go to offer his Friday prayers. Last Friday also he defied the orders and came out of his residence to go to Sopore for condoling the family of Afzal Guru and Tahir Rasool Sofi. Geelani was later taken to police post Humhama.Hurriyat(G) sources told Kashmir Life that as soon as Geelani came out of his residence, the large contingent of police arrested and shifted him to police post Humhama. Geelani is undergoing house arrest since he returned from New Delhi. Chairman of his faction of Hurriyat conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also been put under house arrest since the day he returned from New Delhi. Both the leaders were spent many days under house arrest in New Delhi as well just after the hanging of Afzal Guru For more information, please visit https://www.indiamart.com/company/8918725/aboutus.html F a c t s h e e t Nature of Business :Service Provider CONTACT US Voice Of Valley Contact Person: Manager Near JK Bank, Residency Road Jammu - 190001, Jammu & Kashmir, India https://www.indiamart.com/company/8918725/.
    [Show full text]
  • Azadi!: Syed Ali Shah Gilani and the Movement for Political Self-Determination for Jammu and Kashmir
    Azadi!: Syed Ali Shah Gilani and the Movement for Political Self-Determination for Jammu and Kashmir By Yoginder Sikand Introduction Not many Kashmiri Muslims might share his particular hardliner version of Islam or his passionate advocacy of Kashmir‟s accession to Pakistan, but, still, 82-year old Syed Ali Shah Geelani commands widespread respect among his people for his firm stance on azadi or freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian rule, a stance that he has never wavered from. Geelani‟s popularity among vast numbers of Kashmiri Muslims rests principally in the fact that he is seen as one Kashmiri leader who has never compromised with India, and who has had to face considerable personal privation, including long bouts of imprisonment, for denouncing what he, like many Kashmiris, regard as India‟s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and its violation on a massive scale of human rights in the region. With Kashmir up in flames again, Geelani‟s word is now almost law to the intrepid Kashmiri youth out in the streets defying the might of the Indian state with stones. The overwhelming response to his calls for strikes and demonstrations that have rocked the Kashmir Valley for several weeks now in protest against the killing of youths by Indian armed forces clearly indicates that Geelani is back at the centre-stage of Kashmir politics. It would not be an exaggeration to claim that he is regarded by many Kashmiri Muslims as the unparalleled icon of their resistance to Indian rule. Geelani is one of the few Kashmiri leaders to have written
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan Asia
    PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN) 1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 Telephone: 808.433.7035 · [email protected] · http://www.coe-dmha.org Asia-Pacific Daily Report January 26, 2004 Afghanistan Polio vaccination campaign underway in Afghanistan Today, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a three-day polio vaccination campaign aimed at vaccinating some five million children across the country up to age five. MoPH has deployed some 40,000 volunteers, mainly women who are traveling from village to village and house to house across the country who would cover every district in the country with the exception of few areas that are inaccessible due to heavy snow. The vaccination campaign is part of the United Nations Global Polio Eradication Initiative spearheaded by WHO, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Rotary International. Afghanistan is among the seven countries, including Pakistan, India, Niger, Nigeria, Egypt, and Somalia, where polio is still endemic. According to Afghan MoPH, Afghanistan has made considerable progress in fighting the crippling disease. Last year only eight cases of the disease were recorded. Officials hope to eradicate the poliovirus in Afghanistan by the end of this year. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39126&amp;SelectRegion=Central_Asia&amp;SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/e6c10eeae1596a2e49256e2700192a56?OpenDocumen t Afghan President Hamid Karzai signs country's new constitution into law Today, Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed Afghanistan’s new constitution into law in a ceremony attended by his ministers, foreign dignitaries and military officials at the foreign ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul.
    [Show full text]
  • Kashmir in Crisis – Before and After the Killing of Burhan Wani
    Kashmir in crisis – before and after the killing of Burhan Wani blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2016/08/09/kashmir-in-crisis-before-and-after-the-killing-of-burhan-wani/ 2016-8-9 The killing of a senior militant commander in Kashmir a month ago sparked a series of protests across the Valley. A heavy-handed response from security forces has left scores of civilians dead, thousands injured, including hundreds at risk of blindness owing to the widespread use of pellet guns. Mark Mistry, who visited the disputed territory in May, examines the reasons behind the reactions of the people as the new Chief Minister’s reputation lies in tatters. “The Kashmiri will not accept defeat in a hurry.” – AS Dulat, former chief of India’s external intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing The façade of ‘normalcy’ Hizbul Mujahideen’s Burhan Wani was an instantly recognisable face to millions of Kashmiris, resulting from his adept use of social media while alive. In death too his name will live on as the spark that fuelled the Valley’s latest bout of blood-letting. More than 50 lie dead, and thousands (members of the security forces included) have been injured in confrontations between protestors, police and the alphabet soup of Indian paramilitary and armed forces that inhabit the Vale of Kashmir in their hundreds of thousands. Before Burhan’s death, the portents weren’t good. I visited during the Durbar move in May, which marks the shift of the seat of state government from Jammu to Srinagar, the summer capital. Preparations included the dredging of Dal Lake, where weeds excavated from the waterbody were subsequently dumped on The Boulevard, the road that rings the lake’s perimeter.
    [Show full text]